The Opposite of Fear

On this fearless Friday, I thought I would talk about the elusive opposite of fear. I say "elusive" because the opposite of fear is hard to define. 

If you look up the word "fear" at Thesaurus.com, you'll find synonyms, but you'll also find antonyms. Some of the antonyms (or opposites) of fear include: assurance, calmness, cheer, confidence, contentment, ease, encouragement, faith, joy, and love. 

But in the midst of a fearful situation, how does one put off fear and put on one of these things? When you're fearful, how does that fear exchange for assurance? How can that fear become calmness? How can it become confidence or contentment or joy or love?

And the answer is turning to the only one that gives true assurance, calmness, confidence, contentment, encouragement, joy, and love: God. 

The opposite of fear (or rather fears of life such as anxieties, worries, or just plain being afraid) is fearing and loving the Lord. 

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.  There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4: 16-18

God's perfect love drives out fear. Fearing and love the Lord brings a peace and assurance and confidence that puts fear to death. 

I felt this confidence and assurance while walking to get my car last night. Usually I take a well lit way to get my car, but for some reason I was prompted to take the way with less light, which would be a lot quicker. 

As I started walking this way, the sun had already set over the horizon, but a slice of light still remained, illuminating the way. Even though this way had less light, the Lord still provided light to guide me. Whether it was the street light, my iPhone's light, or even the sliver of light on the horizon. The darkness did not overcome the light. 

My fears can feel like darkness in my life, but the Lord always overcomes the darkness. The sun always rises. Shadows are always illuminated. In fact, shadows don't exist without light. 

God calmed my own fears of the darkness while walking to get my car (to go see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay premiere I might add, more on this movie later). While I probably won't opt to take that route most of the time at night in the future, the Lord still calmed my fears. And showed me that I have full assurance and confidence through trusting him.